Alternative dispute resolution such as mediation is an attractive option to litigation in virtually all aspects of life. It has become increasingly common in employment and contract disputes. Another area where mediation is becoming popular is divorce. For some, it offers a more cost-effective, quicker, and kinder process than court litigation.

In today’s hyperconnected world, we all have privacy concerns. It seems like every website, every purchase, and every conversation is being monitored on the internet. Netflix recently released a documentary about the Ashley Madison hacking scandal. For those living under a rock, Ashley Madison is an online website for married customers seeking an affair. The tag line of the company is “life is short, have an affair.”  The business promised discretion to its over 5 million international users. In 2015, there was a massive security breach and some of Ashley Madison’s users’ private information was leaked to the public.

A custody battle is exactly what it sounds like. It is a high conflict court case where the parties are litigating over who should have custody of the children. It can lead to extreme stress, anger, hostility and mistrust in one another, and frequently, mistrust in the judicial system tasked with making and enforcing important decisions for your family.

The internet encourages us to diagnose our medical problems, book our travel, and get answers to all of our questions quickly. Anything and everything can be done online now. Divorces are no exception.

This article will explore the role of the AFC in a custody case, and in particular, provide 9 tips for working with one.

Often, the most pressing divorce question for parents is how will custody of the children be determined. In most states, if the couple cannot agree on the custody arrangement, custody will be determined by a “best interest” standard and on a case-by-case basis. In many states, the courts now also consider the wishes of the children.

As you think about, or begin the divorce process, you’ve probably heard the words “contested divorce”. This may leave you wondering, what the heck is a contested divorce? Aren’t most divorces adversarial by nature? (Things are ending and chances are you don’t agree on things, terms, or who will get the cat.) If so, isn’t a “contested divorce” … redundant?